218 [Assembly 



physiology, of rocks, soils, atmosphere, water, the imponderable agents 

 and decomposing organisms; also their applications, actions and trans- 

 mutations, under or destitute of vitality. In a word, a knowledge of the 

 commerce, geoponics, genomia, zoonomia, hydrology, and chemistry 

 of agriculture, with facility in examining and making their records. 

 This profession, then, like others, demands the same preparative of 

 instruction. It is impossible to except anything from the course but 

 the dead languages; but though these are excepted, they must ever 

 be deemed as the aids and polish of an education which may be ac- 

 quired without them. 



The general attainments of youth contemplating the pursuits of 

 agriculture, demand that instructions for their benefit should be both 

 preparative and professional. The amount of acquirement requisite 

 for admission to such institutions should be good attainments in the 

 rudiments of an English education, including a thorough acquaint- 

 ance with arithmetic, grammar and geography. The age, with rare 

 exceptions, should not be under fifteen years. 



As already remarked, we appear here as delegates to ask your in- 

 vestigation of the broad subject of agricultural education. 



If the views presented, the result of two years' investigation, are 

 correct, the association we represent would respectfully urge their 

 sanction by the convention in some suitable manner; but if not, that 

 such views should be expressed as may be the result of deliberations 

 due to the importance of the subject. 



But whether correct or not, they would further call your attention 

 to the want of proper institutions, with proper endowments. 



The influence ot existing preparative institutions is thrown to- 

 wards other pursuits, yet there are no means of favor for us as far- 

 mers. Ancient Yale has just established an agricultural professor- 

 ship, from which we would fain augur something for the. advance- 

 ment of agricultural science: other collep^es are examining: the signs 

 in its firmament. 



Theology dots the land with her seminaries, law-schools gather 

 around the purlieus of our courts; medicine every winter gathers her 

 1000 students in a sister city, and in fair proportion where clinical 

 and other instructions are oflfered; commerce and mechanics meet us 

 on every hand with their libraries, their institutes, and their lectures. 



